Wine of the Month

Sommelier Juan Carlos Espadas takes you on a tasting journey this month to the Burgundy region of France.

Joseph Drouhin Vosne-Romanée Premier Cru, 2016 

Grape varieties: Pinot Noir
Country: France
Region: Bourgogne

Founded in 1880, the Joseph Drouhin vineyard in Burgundy has 78 hectares spread over several areas of Côte de Nuits, Chablis, Côte de Beaune and Côte Chalonnaise in this important wine region. For years, a philosophy of ecology and respect for the earth has played an important part in its production process, as listening to the vines and protecting nature is crucial in the production of a great wine. 

The vineyards where Vosne-Romanée Premier Cru is produced are located to the north of Nuits-Saint-Georges, the famous Burgundy district that also produces Romanée-Conti and Richebourg. The chalky well-drained soils and exposure are ideal for growing Pinot Noir grapes. The vineyard has 10,000 vines per hectare, and they are tended using the Guyot pruning technique, with a yield of 43 hl/hectare.

To produce Joseph Drouhin Vosne-Romanée Premier Cru, the grapes are macerated with yeast for two to three weeks at a controlled temperature for vinification to take place. Once fermentation is complete, the wine is stored in barrels, 20 percent in new oak barrels, for 14 to 18 months.   

Vosne-Romanée Premier Cru is a wine rich in the flavors of black fruit, violets and spices. It is rounded and generous on the palate. It has a complex fragrance evoking the scent of violets, Morello cherry, strawberry with hints of coffee, chocolate and even truffle. Delicate, refined aromas combine with silky tannins and an elegant, lingering finish to make it a wine to sip and enjoy.